Viral Transport Medium for Influenza Viruses

The current investigation of a possible new pandemic strain of swine influenza virus¹ highlights the need for readily available virus transport system. New strains require to be identified and characterised by culture, normally in state public health laboratories, or at national surveillance laboratories, such as CDC².

Medical Wire's Virocult® system is a ready to use transport swab kit, including a rayon bud specimen collection swab, and a tube of virus transport medium that can be stored and transmitted in refrigerated or ambient conditions. The liquid medium includes antibiotics to prevent risk of contamination to cell cultures, and is conveniently held within a foam pad inside the tube. There are no ampoules to break, no powders to rehydrate. The swab features our trademark bell cap with a very secure double seal for safe transport of infectious agents.

A presentation at the recent Clinical Virology Symposium³ demonstrated that Virocult would maintain influenza type A virus in a viable condition for at least 8 days at both refrigerated and room temperatures, while also being compatible with the many molecular techniques for routine rapid identification of known strains.

Virocult® conforms to CLSI's M40-A standard⁴ for transport devices is approved and registered for use throughout the world, including the US and Canada.


1. WHO - Public Health Emergency of International Concern, Date: 25 Mar 2009
Statement by WHO director-general, Dr Margaret Chan [25 Apr 2009]

2. CDC Health Advisory Distributed via Health Alert Network April 25, 2009, 3:00 EST (03:00 PM EDT) CDCHAN-000281-2009-04-25-ALT-N Investigation and Interim Recommendations: Swine Influenza (H1N1)

3. Rudsdale, A.. & D. Shedden, 20th April, 2009, Investigation of the Suitability of the Virocult® Swab Transport Device for Influenza A Specimens Which Are to be Analyzed by Cell Culture or Molecular Techniques, POSTER M42 , Clinical Virology Symposium 2009, Daytona Beach

4. NCCLS, 2003, Quality Control of Microbiological Transport Systems: Approved Standard NCCLS Document M40-A